Royalty-free music for TV shows

TV shows typically obtain music in a few different ways:

• Music libraries: TV shows will often work with royalty-free music providers such as Epidemic Sound, which provide a wide variety of pre-recorded music tracks that can be licensed for use in the show.
• Original score: Some TV shows will have an original score composed specifically for the show, this could be done by in-house composers or by hiring independent composers. If you’re not a big production company, maybe you have a composer friend that can help you out creating a sound for your TV show.
• Licensing popular songs: Some TV shows will license popular songs from well-known artists to be used in their episodes. This can be done through the record label or the song's publisher, and it’s generally the most expensive option.
• Public Domain: Some TV shows use music that is in the public domain, which means that it is not protected by copyright and can be used freely.

Epidemic Sound’s catalog contains over 55,000 royalty-free tracks and 250,000 sound effects ready to be used in your content. Try it out.

When it comes to creating the perfect soundtrack for your TV show, obtaining the necessary licenses is crucial. Synchronization and master use licenses, which are typically acquired through the music publisher or record label, are necessary to use music legally in a TV show. But what if you have a limited budget and still want to use original and curated music?

Look no further than Epidemic Sound's royalty-free music catalog with over 55,000 copyright-cleared tracks. Give us a try, get started with our tracks and see how we can elevate your TV show's soundtrack.

Even though some providers do label their music as copyright-free, you must keep in mind that, if you plan to monetize your TV show, you might still need to pay for the license to use the music. This is the case even if the music is labeled as “public domain” or “copyright-free”. It's best to check with the music library or the rights holder for more information.

In case you want to avoid copyright-related issues, we suggest you consider a royalty-free music provider, like Epidemic Sound. Our catalog is already cleared for use on all major platforms. Because of this, you won’t need to worry about monetization or copyright-related issues. Explore our catalog.

Yes, artists typically get paid when their songs are played on TV. The way they get paid is through performance royalties, which are payments made to songwriters, composers, and publishers for the use of their music on TV and other forms of media.

Whenever a song is played on TV, the performance rights organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC collect royalties on behalf of the songwriters, composers, and publishers. These organizations then distribute the royalties to their members, which include the songwriters, composers, and publishers of the music.

It's also worth mentioning that when a TV show licenses a song from a record label, the label will typically pay the artist a royalty from the license fee. This is separate from the performance royalties collected by the PROs.

It's important to note that, in some cases, the artist may not get paid for the usage of their song, for example, if the song is in the public domain or if it's licensed as "copyright-free."

Another good reason to use Epidemic Sound is that the artists we collaborate with get paid fairly and regularly perceive a percentage of the royalties coming from the music that we host in Epidemic Sound’s library. Explore our catalog.

The cost of music for TV can vary widely depending on several factors such as the type of license, the length of the music usage, the size of the audience, and the specific music being licensed.

• Music Libraries: Music libraries such as Epidemic Sound offer pre-recorded music tracks that can be licensed for a relatively low cost. The price starts from $9 per month to download as many tracks as you want.
• Original score: Hiring a local or independent composer to create an original score specifically for your TV show, could cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the length of the score, the number of episodes, and the complexity of the project.
• Licensing popular songs: Licensing popular songs from well-known artists can be more expensive than licensing music from a library. The cost of licensing a popular song can vary widely, depending on the song, the artist, and the length of the usage. The fees also can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, and even more for big hit songs.

Giving credit to the original artist or composer is always a good practice, but it does not necessarily mean that you can use music without obtaining the necessary licenses.

Music is protected by copyright laws, and in order to use it in a TV show or any other type of media, you must obtain the proper licenses. These licenses may include synchronization licenses, which allow you to use the music in conjunction with visual images, and master use licenses, which allow you to use a specific recording of the music.

Even if the music is in the public domain, you might still need to pay for the license to use the music, especially if you are planning to monetize your TV show.

In summary, giving credit to the original artist or composer is a good practice, but it does not replace obtaining the necessary licenses to use the music in a TV show or any other type of media. It's always best to consult with a music supervisor or an entertainment lawyer to make sure that you are obtaining the necessary licenses and paying the correct fees.

If you don’t have the time/budget to go through the steps above, check out Epidemic Sound. Thanks to our catalog, you’ll be able to download unlimited music/sound effects and use them within your content. Our music is already licensed for external use if you do have a subscription, so there’s no need to worry about copyright-related issues.

Start soundtracking now!